police departments?

Question

just wondering if police departments issue sidearms to officers?if they do,do u have to use this weapon or can u supply ur own,and if u can supply ur own,what caliber or brand does it have to be?or what is the most popular and reliable?

Answer 1

It all depends on where you work. When I started many years ago, we carried revolvers which we had to purchase on our own.
Then around 1990 in the wake of the FBI shootout in Miami where they lost officers, they began to recommend the 9mm pistols (semi-automatic).
We were issued 9mm SigSauer semi-autos with the 15 round magazines and 2 extras. So we effectively went from carrying 6 bullets in the gun and 12 in speed loaders, to carrying 46 rounds of 9mm.
Then with the short-comings of the 9mm, we were finally able to get out Chief to trade the 9mms in on the SigSauer P-220 .45 caliber pistol. These were a step up, the .45 has accounted very well for itself in actual shootings since the Colt .45 auto pistol was used in WWI and so on in the early 1900s.
SInce we had to carry what the city purchased on-duty, we could only choose what we wanted to carry off-duty. Most officers carried the SigSauer off-duty also.
SInce I retired, I now carry a Springfield Armory .45 auto which carries 14 rounds of .45 ammo (13 in the clip).
The SigSauer has been a big choice for Federal law enforcement in the 9mm, DEA, FBI among others issued them at one time or another.
The argument in law enforcement is mainly now Glock pistols in 9mm, .40 caliber and .45 caliber vs. SigSauer, Smith & Wesson, Springfield Armory, etc.
All of these manufacturers make fine pistols, and given the choice I would opt for my XD45 Springfield Armory every time. It has a high capacity, slim grip which is good for large and small hands, extreme reliability and is very similiar to a Glock except for the addition of a palm safety in the grip which makes it even safer than a Glock in my opinion.
For a lot of departments you have no option on what to carry on duty, and the local Sheriff's Dept. here will only allow you to carry a smaller version of the Glock 9mm they carry on duty.
So summary: 9mm was King, now the .40 and .45 are the choices of most agencies in the present law enforcement world.
I have a family member who did some pretty wild stuff in the military and CIA who highly recommends the .45 as very effective in actual shooting incidents. I was only involved in 1 incident with the .45 and it terminated the threat in 1 shot, (very large man, combat trained, very motivated to kill who had a knife).
Good luck with whatever you choose to do.

Answer 2

As most said, it depends on the department. I am issued my sidearm, .40 cal Sig P226. Some agencies issue, some don't. The Game Wardens here are issued as well, but they are carrying Glocks, .40 cal as well.

The old .38 was the weapon of choice back in the day. But, revolvers have pretty much been determined obsolete given you have to reload after six shots.

.45 cal and .40 cal seem to be the trend in this area by the different agencies.

As far as reliability, I personally feel the Glock's are most reliable. But, the Sig I am issued is one of the finest weapons as well.

Answer 3

My department issues Glock model 22 .40 cal pistols, but we can carry our own guns from an approved list of makes, models, and calibers. I carry a Kimber .45 because I like the 1911 style pistols and although the Glock is an excellent weapon, I just don't care for it a whole lot.

Answer 4

Most agencies issue the weapons and ammunition for liability reasons. As far as the weapon of choose - Our agency uses the Glock 45 cal model 27. Practice with a specific weapon makes the best weapon. A weapon is only as good as the user. Personal preference.

Answer 5

You can supply your own weapon. Many use a Glock or Berretta 9mm, though some would complain that the 9mm does not have enough stopping power and opt for a 45 ca. ACP. The 9s typically do have greater capacity though.

The Javeline anti-tank missile works very well too.

Answer 6

This varies with departments. Thirty-eight revolvers used to be the weapon of choice, but now most use 8mm with more shots. Some officers use 38 or 44 magnum revolvers for stopping power, but they have to be careful not to shoot through a wall and kill innocents.

Answer 7

The type of firearm and the caliber varies from place to place. Some departments allow personal firearms, but most also issue them.

Answer 8

There are a variety of answers to this question. Our police dept does not issue firearms - you buy them yourself. Same with bullet proof vests - some do, some don't. Some depts do issue guns. (If they have a really big budget!) Most cops I know carry a Glock.

Answer 9

usually, your sidearm will be issued to you by your department. of course, all departments are not the same and may allow you to carry your choice of sidearms as long as you can qualify with it on the range.

Answer 10

It relies upon on what you want out of your career... also what's your Sheriff's branch responsible for and what's your community Police branch responsible for? In some elements the Sheriff's branch has a itemizing of responsibilities that may comprise operating a correctional facility, transporting inmates, court docket safe practices/baliff responsibilities, civil procedure service, tax sequence, operating the county coroner, operating the 911 center, transporting juveniles, psychological hygeine commitments and transports, and crime prevention classes ON correct OF THE usual PATROL responsibilities-----also in a large number of elements the sheriff's branch genarally will concentration their patrols interior the unincorperated elements of the county and go away the cities to the municipal police and in others they do both. some human beings go artwork for the sheriff's branch and at the same time as they get "stuck" with a majority of those different non classic police responsibilities and they at the same time as they get to patrol they are searching at cows and barns...they get annoyed. So in simple terms save this in ideas, this received't be the case on your section. Now as far as police departments they are going to especially persist with patrol responsibilities and what we are able to guage "classic" regulation enforcement. So in case your image of you in regulation enforcement is you on patrol and doing investigative artwork in effortless words you are able to wish to seem on the police branch. notwithstanding in case you want that yet received't ideas in case you in many situations get stuck with different responsibilities then you actual could also want to seem on the sheriff's branch. you even ought to seem at advantages and pay because like some different person stated you are able to ought to ultimately help a kinfolk and ought to probable want the corporate with the added ideal benfits. final analysis do your analyze on beneifts, and pay. discover out what each and each company is responsible for and do a experience alongside with each and each then ascertain.